Mail box



May 21, 1929. H. KONEFES MAIL BOX Filed Aug. 14, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ATTORNEY May 21, 1929- J. H. KONEFES MAIL BOX 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 14, 1924 FIG 5 v ZQZJ INVENTOR. f6 l fiwr ATTORNEY May 2 4929- J.H. KONEFES MAIL BOX Filed Aug. 14, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 374 im/e0, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY May 1929 J. H. KONEFES MAIL BOX 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 14, 1924 INVENTOR. My $22 M ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1.929.

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MAIL BOX.

Application filed au ust 14, was. Serial No. 731,961.

The object of my invention is to construct a safe, weather-proof, inexpensive, simple and durable mail box, constructed so that outgoing mail may easily be removed from it,

and incoming mail may readily be inserted into it.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a partially sectional side-elevation of a post and hanger with a single compartment box of my construction shown attached thereto in its normal, vertical position; Fig. 2 is a partially sectional sideelevation of the same hanger and box, with the box shown in horizontal position; Fig. 8

is an end view of the lower end of the same box as it appears when the box is in horizon tal position; Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the swinging gate used in the box shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the lower end of the same box showing the manner of holding outgoing mail in position for ready removal by the mail car rier; Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of a post and a letter box of my construction having several compartments, with the box shown in vertical position; and Fig. 7 is alike side elevation of such post and box, with the box in horizontal position.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a preferably cylindrical box 10, with closed upper end, is swingingly mounted, above its center of gravity, by means of rod 11,

in forked bracket 12 which is attached to a post 13 orother convenient support so that it normally by its own weight assumes a vertieal, but may be swung to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2; Some distance above the lower end of box 10, horizontal rod 16 extends through box 10, and carries a swinging gate 15, adapted to partially close the lower end of box 10. Rod 16, near its ends, passes through lugs 17, bent up from, and integral with, sloping extensions 18 of a horizontal partition 19 which is rigidly attached to the interior of box 10 some distance 45 above rod 16. A. portion of partition 19 being cut away, there is mounted on a rod 20, insert ed in lugs 21, which are bent downward from partition 19, a second swinging gate 22 which is shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 1-, and which is adapted, when box 10 is in vertical position, to close with its lower portion 23 the opening between rods 16 and 20. but to swing open so as to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, when box 10 is brought to a horizontal position, lugs 24 being provided to limit in this case the upward swing of portion 23. A. rod 25 is held by projections weather. 110C116, near its ends, carries torsional springs 28, arranged so that their outer ends bear against extens1on 18, while their inner ends bear against the lower side of gate 15, in such a manner as to force gate 15 up ward against lugs'29 which are provided on the inner side of box 10 to limit the upward swing of gate 15. A hooked clip is as tened to gate 15 to form a handle for opening gate 15 against the pressure of springs 28, and openingsgl and 32 are provided in clip 30 and in the lower edge of box 10, respectively, to accommodate a padlock 33 as a means for securely locking gate 15 in position.

It will be perceived that when box 10 is swung to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, mail may readily be inserted into the box throughthe opening between rod 14L- and gate 22, and will thereupon be rather difficult of access as long as gate 15 is locked, but may readily be removed by unlocking and opening gate 15.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, a box 34:, preferably of substantially rectangular horizontal cross-section, is attached, above its center of gravity, by means 01": hinge 35, to a post 36 in such manner that it normally, by its own weight, swings into vertical position as shown in Fig. 6, but may be raised to horizontal position as shown in Fig. 7. The front of box 341 is permanently closed. down to some distance below the middle of its length, and the closing sheet is there formed with a horizontal gutter 37 to protect the lower end of the interior of the box the better against the weather.

The interior oi box 3% is divided by sloping partitions 38 and 39 into two compart ments 40 and 41 respectively. Near the upper end of partition 39 there is mounted, on a horizontal transverse rod 42. a swinging member 13, comprising a gate 441- and a counter-weight 45. Member 43 is so arranged that when box 3% is in vertical position, gate 44 will automatically close both the mouth of compartment 40 and the opening 46, into compartment 41, formed between partitions V 38 and 39, but that when box 34 is brought to a horizontal position, gate 44 will swing back so as to afford access to compartment 40,

and toalso permit the insertion of mail into compartment 41 through opening 46. The lower forward end of boX 34, between its sloping bottom 47 and partition-39, is closed by a gate 48, hinged on a horizontal rod 49, corresponding openings 50 and 5lbeing provided in the lower lip of gate 48 and in bottom 47 for accommodating a padlock 52 by which gate 48 may be locked in position.

* It will be noted that when boX 34 is swung into horizontal position, counterweight 45 divides compartment 41 into two portions and that any mail inserted through opening 46 into compartment 41 will at first rest in that portion of compartment 41 which adjoins compartment40, but that when box 34 is returned to vertical position, counterweight 45 will swing out of the Way and will permit any mail thus inserted to slide into the lower portion of compartment 41, and will, if box 34 is thereupon again returned from the essentials of my invention.- All such changes I intend to cover by my claims.

I claim v 1. A container oscillatably supported above its center of gravity so that it automatically tends to return, by force of its own gravity, to a normal vertical position whenever moved therefrom, and having a downward opening, protected, when the container "normal vertical position, but to clear the open ng when the container is swung to a predetermined other position. a

2. A container oscillatably supported so thatit automatically tends to return to. a normal vertical position, whenever movedtherefrom, and having a downward opening,'pro tected, when the container is in normal posi tion, from the weather by downwardly sloping walls in combination with a gate adapted to close the opening automatically when the container assumes its normal vertical position, but to clearthe opening when the container is swung to a predetern'iined other position. V I

3. A container oscillatably supported above its center of gravity, having a compartment with an opening for the insertion of'parcels, in combination with an automatic" gate adapted to control saidopening, and to divide said; compartment into a receiving and retaining chamber while said opening is open, substantially as described.

4. A container oscillatably supported above its center of gravity and having an opening for the insertion of matter, in comhination with means adapted to close said opening automatically when the container hangs in normal position, but to clear said opening when the container is swung to a predetermined other position, and to separate, While said opening is cleared, the space within the container into which matter is to be inserted'through the opening, trom the'space in which it is to be retained.

J OSEPH H. KONEFES. 

